Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Pordon, John October 29, 1827 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 17, 2009, 4:11 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

JOHN PORDON, farmer, sec. 6, present Supervisor of Martiny Tp., was born in 
the town of Ravensburg 

(Danube), KIngdom of Wurtembuerg, Germany, Oct. 29, 1827.  He is a son of 
Bertram and Celopha (Pfleghaar) 

Pardon.  His father was a farmer and died when the son was but one year old.  
He was fully orphaned by the 

death of his mother when he was nine years of age, and his uncle, Benedict 
Pfleghaar, assumed the care and 

guardianship of the bereaved child, continuing to protect him until he was 14 
years old, when he was placed 

under training for the busines of carpenter and joiner.  After working at that 
trade two years, he 

emigrated to the United States and located at Toledo, Ohio.  He worked a year 
at his vocation and then 

engaged in a nursery for a short time.  In 1855, he went to Dundee, Monroe 
Co., Mich, and operated as a 

farm hand until the outbreak of the civil war in 1861.

He enlisted in the Fourth Mich. Inf., and served four years, nine and a half 
months, - the longest military 

service recorded in the pages of this work.  His experiences include all the 
hardships, privations and 

contingencies incident  to a soldier's life, except capture at the hands of 
the rebels.  the list of 

battles in which he took part are, Bull Run, (Second), Gettysburg, 
chancellorsville, Marion Hill, 

Newbridge, Hanies' Landing, Gaines' Hill, Mine Run, Hatcher's Run, Gravel Run, 
Petersburg, Wilderness, and 

last, Appomattox Court-House, where he was an eye witness of the virtual 
collapse of the Rebellion.  At the 

close of the war he was sent to San Antonio, Texas, and was there stationed 
nine and a half months.  He was 

wounded May 6, 1864, and lost his hearing from the explosion of a shell at the 
battle of Gettysburg.  He 

was discharged with the rank of Sergeant and returned to Michigan.

He rusumed his former employment at home for a while, and after some time went 
to Detroit, where he worked 

as a carpenter three months.  He spent six months in the employ of a plumber, 
and was then engaged in the 

Water-Works at Detroit, where he continued five years.  His next business 
enterprise was with Gerhart 

Gudnaw, in the grocery business, where he was occupied four months.  After 
that he was a peddler six 

months, and after spending six months more in Detroit in various occupations, 
he sold his property there 

and came to Mecosta County, and was engaged by March & _________, heavy 
landholders in Chippewa Tp., and 

resided there four years.  In 18--, he purchased the farm he now owns, 
containing 80 acres of land.

Mr. Pordon was married in 1866, in MOnroe, Mich., to Anna, daughter of Ignatz 
and Victoria (Gunthner) 

Hilbert.  she was born in Germany, Jan. 22, 1845, and came to the United 
States with her parents in 1853.  

Four children are comprised in the family, Cleopha J., Benjamin M., Clara J. 
and Amelia V.

Mr. Pordon is a Democrat, has held various offices and was elected to his 
present position in 1883.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/pordon552nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 3.7 Kb